Case for cigarettes and the like.



J. E. JOHNSON.

CASE FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED mmze. 19H.

Patented June 12, 1917.

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3. E. jOrlNSON.

CASE FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE,

APPLICATION FILED mLzfi. 1911.

1 fi'yw Patented June 12, 1917.

3 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2' 11:95 0

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JOHN E. JOHNSON, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINOIS WATCH CASE (30., OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CASE FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 26, 1917.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cases for Cigarettes and the like, of which the following is a specification.

In the present invention I have aimed to produce a serviceable case for small articles, such as cigarettes and the like, which is simple and reliable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is provided with novel and improved means for centralizing the position of the holder relative to the case covers when opened. These and other objects are hereinafter clearly set forth in the specification and claims and in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a transverse section through a case designed to accommodate cigarettes, and which embodies the improvements of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the case, taken on line 22 of Fig. 4, showing the cigarette holder end in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 5, and is similar to Fig. 2, except that the holder is shown in cross section with its hinged leaves partially open;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the case taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, the holder being broken away to exhibit a portion of the frame, which is positioned centrally therein;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the case taken on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, except that the covers are closed to what may be termed the neutral point;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the holder and adjoining parts of the cover; and

Fig. 8 is a view of the holder frame showmg a tension devlce of different form than,

that illustrated in Fig. 5.

The present case employs two covers 9 having inturned edges 10 to provide be tween the covers a compartment intended to receive small articles such as cigarettes and the like. A pintle 11 is arranged to cooperate with suitable joints 12 formed on the covers to establish a pivotal connection therebetween. A holder frame 13 is likewise jointed as at 14 upon the pintle 11 so as to be co-axially hinged between the ease covers.-

Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 151 17.

Serial No. 144,724.

Bezels 15 are provided upon the meeting edges of the covers, except along those edges adjacent the pintle 11 between the joints 14 of the holder. When the covers are closed, as shown in Fig. 1, a spring catch 16 operates to hold them together.

lVithin the case, and secured to the frame 13, is a holder for cigarettes or other de sired articles, designated generally as 17. This holder comprises the frame 13 which I prefer to construct in the form of a letter H, with its lower ends 14 jointed to the pintle 11; a zigzag or multiple leaf spring 18, which may, if desired, be of the general forms suggested in Figs. 5 and 8, secured at one end to the cross bar 19 of the frame and at the other end to the holder top plate 20, and exerting a pull tension at all times; two side plates 21 connected with the top plate 20 and with end plates and leaves 23, one pivoted to each side plate 21, as best shown in Fig. 3. The pivotal connection between each leaf and side plate is made in proximity to the pintle 11, one on each side thereof, and includes a pintle 24 extended through suitable joints 25 (see Fig. 4) alternately formed on the leaf and plate, and a torsional spring 26 which tends normally to hold the leaf in closed position upon the holder.

As clearly shown, the hinged edges of the leaves and side plates are inturned toward each other so as to provide suitable compartments for the reception of the intended articles. The two pintles 24 lie on either side of the pintle 11 and in substantially a straight line therewith when the case covers are open. If necessary, the lower ends of the end plates may be cut away as at 27 to clear the bezels 15 formed on the covers. To better accommodate the holder compartments for the reception of cigarettes, pockets extending'radially therein are formed by suitably 'corrugating the side plates and leaves secured thereto. The radial length of the holder is considerably less than that of the case within whiehit is mounted, as indicated'in Fig. 1, and when in service cigarettes or other articles may be inserted in the pockets on each side of the holder, at which time the leaves pivoted thereto can yieldingly swing open as required for the accommodation of such articles.

The spring 18 in the holder frame is designed to exert its tension in such a way that when the catch 16 is withdrawn, the covers will open automatically, and the holder remain in position centrally between the covers. This is accomplished by the construction already described and in the following manner:

hen the case is closed (see Fig. 1), the joints 25 surrounding the pintles 2% rest against the inner faces of the inturned edges 10 of the covers while the holder frame joints 14: remain pivoted to the pintle 11. The pull tension of the spring 18, however, draws the pintles 24 tightly against the cover edges, as shown, so that when the spring catch 16 is released, the covers will spring open. When the covers have opened to the position indicated in Fig. 6, the bezels 15 adjacent the pintle 11, will be inclined angularly, as shown, and be engaged by the bottom of the holder. As the spring tension is still effective, the holder will bear down upon the bezels to continue the opening movement of the covers. The fully opened position is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and in these it will be noted that the holder engages at points adjacent the pintles 24 with the bezels 15 formed on each cover. This double engagement, rendered firm by the tension of the spring 18, insures the centralizing of the holder between the covers at all times, regardless of the distance that they are opened. The same means that centralize the holder operates also to open the covers, and for this double purpose presents an exceedingly simple and reliable construction.

I claim:

1. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two covers, a holder, a frame slidingly arranged within the holder, a common pivotal connection between the covers and frame, and tension means connected to the holder and frame tending to draw the holder toward the pivotal connection, the covers being arranged to engage the holder on opposite sides thereof at all times whereby the holder is centralized in position between the covers, substantially as described.

2. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two pivotally connected covers, a holder, a frame slidingly arranged within the holder and pivotally connected to the case, and tension means connected to the frame and holder and tending to draw the holder toward the pivotally connected end of the frame, the holder being arranged to engage on opposite sides of the frame with the covers at all times whereby the position of the holder is centralized, substantially as described.

3. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two covers having inturned edges to provide a compartment therebetween, a pintle to which the covers are hinged, bezels formed upon the meeting edges of the covers, a holder between the covers, a frame within the holder and jointed to the pintle, tension means connecting the holder and frame and tending to maintain the holder firmly against the hinged edges of the covers, leaves upon opposite sides of the holder, and a pivotal connection between each leaf and the holder, the pivotal connection being arranged to rest upon the proximate bezel to centralize the position of the holder relative to the covers, substantially as described.

1. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two covers and a frame therebetween co-axially pivoted together, a holder slidably mounted on the frame, and tension means connecting the holder and frame and tending to maintain the holder firmly against the pivoted ends of the covers, whereby the holder is centralized between the covers, the said tension means serving also to open the covers, substantially as described.

5. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two covers and a, frame therebetween co-aXially pivoted together, a holder slidably mounted on the frame, and tension means connecting the holder and frame and tending to maintain the holder firmly against the pivoted ends of the covers, whereby the holder is centralized between the covers, substantially as described.

6. A case of the kind described comprising, in combination, two pivotally connected covers, a holder between the covers, and a spring connected with the holder exerting tension toward the pivotal connection between the covers for yieldingly maintaining the holder against the pivoted ends of the covers to normally open the covers, substantially as described.

7. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two pivotally connected covers, a holder between the covers, a sliding connection between the holder and covers, and a tension device secured both to the holder and covers and tending to centralize the holder therebetween, the tension device alone preventing disengagement of the holder and covers, substantially as described.

8. A case of the kind described comprising, in combination, two pivotally connected covers, a holder between the covers movable toward and from their pivotal connection, and a spring for opening the covers connected with the holder for yieldingly holding the same in place, substantially as described.

JOHN E. JOHNSON.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

